Brexit: 12th November Weekly News

THERESA MAY’S PLAN COMES UNDER SIEGE FROM ALL WINGS OF THE TORY PARTY

Theresa May’s Brexit plan is under siege from across the Tory party as she attempts to overcome the final sticking points with Brussels in time to push it through a critical meeting of her cabinet ministers on Tuesday. As time to strike a deal runs out, leading Brexiters have told the prime minister they remain deeply opposed to her idea for an exit mechanism that could allow the UK to quit a temporary customs arrangement if Brexit talks collapse. Cabinet Brexiters have pushed for a unilateral route, with the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, the first to say publicly the power to leave the backstop – the UK’s insurance policy if talks fail – should rest with the “sovereign” British government. – Guardian

The former foreign secretary suggested that if May’s plans for a backstop customs deal with the EU, aimed at preventing a hard border in Northern Ireland, went through the UK could be reduced to the status of a colony. In a stinging attack on the PM’s proposals ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Johnson said May’s agenda would see the UK “remain in captivity”. Johnson said plans for a backstop, which would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU if a solution to the Irish border issue could not be found, would be worse than remaining in the EU. May is under fire from both wings of the Tory party after the shock resignation from the Government of Johnson’s pro-European brother Jo, who also delivered a withering attack on the PM’s stance. That move fired speculation that more ministers who backed Remain in the referendum campaign could also quit. – Huffington Post

CABINET MINISTERS ‘VOICED DOUBTS AT PM’S PLAN AT START’

Several cabinet ministers expressed significant doubts about the prime minister’s preferred Brexit plan from the start, the BBC has learned. Parts of Theresa May’s plan were described as “worrying”, “disappointing” and “concerning” by members of her top team back in July. Mrs May is struggling to broker an agreement on Brexit with ministers. Two ministers have told the BBC they believe there is little chance the deal would get Parliament’s backing. One of them said it was “self-harming” for the PM to keep pursuing the same strategy. Mrs May’s preferred plans for Brexit were agreed at Chequers – the prime minister’s country retreat – in July, in a marathon cabinet meeting lasting nearly 12 hours. Afterwards, Mrs May said the cabinet had reached a “collective” agreement on the basis of the UK’s future relationship with the EU after Brexit. – BBC News

A senior Conservative MP has said voters will likely want a change at the top once Brexit is sorted out – and it is “hardly surprising” the government has become a “bit worn out” by negotiating Britain’s exit from Europe. Tom Tugendhat, who is seen by many as a future Tory leadership candidate, told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that he was “waiting to see what deal the prime minister brings back”. But he added: “I haven’t made any great secret of the fact that I would consider running for my party leadership at some point.” – Sky News

The shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, has attempted to calm Labour dismay at Jeremy Corbyn’s announcement that “we can’t stop Brexit”, by insisting the option of campaigning for a second referendum was still on the table. The senior Labour politician said the vote to leave the EU “ought to be abided by” and that there were still “several stages” before the party would back a “people’s vote”, but that “all the options remain on the table”. Corbyn angered Labour MPs and supporters when he said Brexit could not be halted in an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel on Friday in which he also urged the entire country to recognise why people voted to leave. – Guardian

Facebook Fanpage

Our Mission – Brexit UK

To create content that educates, informs and inspires. We are 100% Neutral Brexit content.

The Full Draft Agreement

Draft Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and
the European Atomic Energy Community, as agreed at negotiators'
level on 14 November 2018.